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Monica D. Higgins / Build  / Reasons Why You Want a Contractor to Pull Permits

Reasons Why You Want a Contractor to Pull Permits

If given the choice, many homeowners would never have permits pulled for their projects because they view them as an unnecessary cost.  

What they don’t realize is the main purpose behind pulling permits, which is to ensure homes are safe from fire hazards, structural issues and health risks.  Plus, permits provide a permanent record of the work performed on your home, as well as the inspections conducted and passed.  

Homeowners often don’t realize that an addition to your home that wasn’t permitted and therefore not inspected and documented doesn’t officially exist. It’s a phantom room.  While this may seem like no big deal–you got the extra space you wanted–it becomes a huge problem when you sell your home. You’ll be required to either pull permits and have the area inspected, hoping it passes inspection, or worse forced to tear the non-permitted area down/out. Either way, you’ll end up paying for it.  So, you might as well do it right the first time and pull permits from the get go.

Sometimes you can minimize the need for permits. For example, building codes require a permit for a fence over a certain height. If securing the appropriate permit is cost prohibitive, time consuming, or otherwise a pain, ask yourself if you are willing to live with a shorter fence that wouldn’t require a permit.  

Permits are not really something you should apply for because when you sign a building permit application as an owner-builder, you assume full responsibility for all phases of your project and its integrity.  You are responsible for ordering materials, making sure all suppliers are paid, the work meets code and it passes inspection. As an owner-builder you are the general contractor of record responsible for supervising, scheduling, and paying subcontractors. If you use anyone other than a licensed subcontractor for work, you may be considered an “employer.” Employers must register with the state and federal government and are obligated to participate in state and federal income tax withholding, federal Social Security taxes, workers’ compensation insurance, disability insurance costs, and unemployment compensation contributions.

This is most likely something you don’t want to get involved with. So, leave the pulling of the permits to the contractor.  A reputable contractor is more qualified than most homeowners to navigate the permit process and respond to building department questions.

Pulling permits signals the need for an inspection which confirms that the work is completed according to code and the approved plans. This gives you peace of mind which is priceless, just like my book Remodel Success.  Sign up here for a free preview.  

Monica D. Higgins

Monica previously helped people find new homes as a licensed real estate agent before she founded Renovation Planners, a construction management firm dedicated to helping homeowners avoid remodeling horror stories. Today, Monica is honored to share her knowledge of the construction industry in a variety of ways, so homeowners and industry pros alike can experience Remodel Success.

4 Comments

  • Dana Cortada

    November 15, 2020 11:41 am
    Reply

    Hi Monica!!
    Question?

    My contractor put my permits under owner builder

    He said if he puts in his name
    Hell charge 30% more

    Sounds shady right?

  • Tom Hollingsworth

    September 3, 2021 7:57 pm
    Reply

    Contractor building new deck was told he would have to wait a number of days for the frame inspection. He chose to go ahead with construction and elected to hire an engineer to do an inspection of the framing at a cost of $453 so construction could be resumed without delay. The invoice for the engineers report was brought to the owner for payment even though the owner had had no involvement in the decision. Who should pay the engineer fees?

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